Tag: zaccheus

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One Minute Reflection – 16 November – ‘Here is a sweet remedy, when downhearted and small … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 November – Readings: 2 Maccabees 6: 18-31; Psalm 3: 2-7; Luke 19: 1-10 – The Memorial of St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus …”- Luke 19:4

REFLECTION – “Here is a sweet remedy when downhearted and small – we should do what Zaccheus did. He was not tall and climbed a tree in order to see God. His zeal merited him to hear these sweet words: “Zaccheus, go home for today I need to dine with you.”

We should do the same when we are low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity – we should climb the Tree of the most Holy Cross and there we shall see, we shall touch God! There we shall find the fire of His ineffable charity, the love which caused Him to run, even to the insults of the Cross which raised Him up and made Him ardently desire the honour of His Father and our salvation, with hunger and thirst. … If we wish, if we are not prevented by our negligence, we may accomplish these words in ourselves, emanating from the lips of Truth, when we mount the Tree of the Cross: “when I am lifted up on high, I shall draw all things to myself” (Jn 12:32). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Spirit, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the Wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy Tree where hang the ripe fruits of all the virtues, that the body of the Son of God bears – ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena OP (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church, Co-Patron of Europe (Letter 119 to the prior of the Olivetans

PRAYER – Lord our God, You made the heart of St Gertrude, the dwelling place of Your love. Lighten our darkness so that through her intercession, we may experience the joy of Your presence in our hearts and with Zaccheus, we may have you stay in our home. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

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Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – – 19 November – ‘Make haste and come down’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – – 19 November – Tuesday of the Thirty Third Week of Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 19:1–10 and the Memorial of St Matilda of Hackeborn (c 1241-1298)

“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” … Luke 19:6

REFLECTION – “Celine, what a mystery is our grandeur in Jesus.   This is all that Jesus has shown us in making us climb the symbolic tree about which I was just talking to you. And now, what science is He about to teach us?   Has He not taught us all?   Let us listen to what He is saying to us:  “Make haste to descend, I must lodge today at your house.” Well, Jesus tells us to descend.   Where, then, must we descend?   Celine you know better than I, however, let me tell you where we must now follow Jesus.   In days gone by, the Jews asked our divine Saviour:  “Master, where do you live?”   And He answered: “The foxes have their lairs, the birds of heaven their nests, but I have no place to rest my head.” This is where we must descend in order that we may serve as an abode for Jesus.   To be so poor that we do not have a place to rest our head.   This is, dear Celine, what Jesus has done in my soul during my retreat.   You understand, there is question here of the interior. (…)

What Jesus desires is that we receive Him into our hearts.   No doubt, they are already empty of creatures but, alas, I feel mine is not entirely empty of myself and it is for this reason that Jesus tells me to descend.   He, the King of kings, humbled Himself in such a way that His face was hidden and no one recognised Him and I, too, want to hide my face, I want my Beloved alone to see it, that He be the only one to count my tears, that in my heart at least He may rest His dear head and feel that there, He is known and understood!” … St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) Doctor of the Churchzaccheus make haste and come down - jesus tells us to descend - st there of the child jesus 19 nov 2019

PRAYER – Look with favour on our prayer Lord and in Your saving love, may your light so penetrate the hidden places of our hearts, that we may become like You, pure and humble of heart.   May no sordid desires darken our minds and may we be renewed and enlightened as we receive Your heavenly grace.   Grant that the intercession of St Matilda of Hackeborn lead us to a new way of remorse and repentance as we learn from You, our Saviour.   Through Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.st matilda mechtilde of hackeborn pray for us 19 nov 2019